I am like a man so busy in letting rooms in one end of his house, that he can't stop to put out the fire that is burning the other.
Abraham LincolnRead
Free labor has the inspiration of hope; pure slavery has no hope.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that hope is a vital component of freedom, while the absence of hope characterizes slavery.
Abraham Lincoln emphasizes the critical role that hope plays in motivating individuals. Free labor, driven by hope and the desire for a better future, stands in stark contrast to slavery, which strips away all hope and reduces individuals to mere survival without the possibility of improvement or personal fulfillment.
Themes
HopeFreedomSlaveryLaborInspiration
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about the importance of liberty and motivation in achieving one's goals.
More from Abraham Lincoln
All quotes βSir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.
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Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.
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How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.
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For it has been said, all that a man hath will he give for his life; and while all contribute of their substance the soldier puts his life at stake, and often yields it up in his country's cause. The highest merit, then is due to the soldier.
Abraham LincolnRead
And having thus chosen our course, without guile, and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear, and with manly hearts.
Abraham LincolnRead
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Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a socialist.
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